NHGOP chair calls on Shaheen to cancel fund-raiser at home of lobbyist with ties to ‘DC Madame’

CONCORD — State Republican Party chairman Jennifer Horn is calling on Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen to cancel what Horn is calling a “disgraceful” fundraiser set for tonight at the home of a Washington lobbyist with reported ties to the so-called “D.C. Madame.”

The conservative web site Daily Caller reported that the phone number of the lobbyist, Bill Brodyrick, was found in phone records released by the “Madame,” Deborah Jeane Palfrey back in 2007. The Daily Caller relied on a report by The Associated Press, which said that in 2004, Brodyrick’s cell phone number showed up in the phone records of a Washington escort service that federal prosecutors allege was a prostitution ring.

According to the AP report, “A search of the phone records posted on the Internet showed that the cell number came up three times in 2004, with each call lasting less than a minute.” Palfrey was later convicted of racketeering and money laundering and was found dead by hanging in 2008.

Also, according to the Capital Times of Madison, Wisc., Broydrick also pleaded guilty in 1989 to providing an illegal gift to former Wisconsin state Sen. Gary George.

In a statement today, NHGOP chair Jennifer Horn said: “Granite Staters expect their elected officials to adhere to high ethical standards, and it’s unseemly for Senator Shaheen to be involved in the sleazy underside of Washington politics,” said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. “It is disgraceful that Senator Shaheen chose to kick off the general election campaign with a fundraiser at the home of a financial services lobbyist who has been convicted of illegal gift giving and tied to a prostitution ring. She needs to immediately cancel this fundraiser and return all donations from this disgraceful event.”

There was no response from the state Democratic Party to the New Hampshire Journal’s request for comment, and the Shaheen campaign did not respond to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.